The ad says Clinton has been a leader in fighting for health care for military personnel.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - As Sen. Hillary Clinton prepares for Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, she launched her third radio ad in South Carolina, an important early voting state in the march to the Democratic Party’s nomination.

The ad, which focuses on health care for military veterans, comes one day after former Sen. John Edwards became the first Democrat of the 2008 cycle to run a television ad in the Palmetto State.

Clinton’s radio spot says the New York senator has been "for decades, a steadfast champion of our troops," and promises that she "will fully fund the VA so that our veterans are guaranteed the health care and mental health care they need for life."

Clinton is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a fact she routinely mentions on the campaign trail.

Both Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama have run radio ads in this state targeting African-American voters specifically. But South Carolina also boasts a significant population of military servicemen and veterans, and Clinton's ad is the first of this cycle in South Carolina to reach out specifically to that constituency.

The radio spot also boasts that Clinton expanded health coverage for members of the National Guard and Army Reserve, saying, "Hillary expanded the TRICARE program to ensure that all Guard and Reserve members and their families have health benefits."

soundoff(27 Responses)

I strongly believe it is time for constructive change in the direction that our military and country is sliding. A strong and tested believer of the constitition in the person of Sen. Clinton is exactly what our once held in high-esteem country cries out for.

To You So-Called Military Retirees What Makes You Think She Needs Your Are Your So-called Associates Support If You Don't Think She Is Your Candidate Just Don't Vote For Her Hilliary Supporters Comes In Veterens,Women,Men,Hispanics And A Host Of Other Voters.I Served In The Military Just Like Some Of You And I'am Black And I Can Assure You That Senator Clinton Will Be Getting My Vote,And A Host Of Other Veterens,And African-Americans.It Amazes Me How You Hilliary =-Haters Follow Her Editorials And Voice Your Disdain Of Her,It Seems To Me That A Lot Of You Are Scared That She Is Getting To Close To The White House.The Military Don't Nesasarry Vote For Republicans At Least Not This Go Round And You Don't Know Who People Will Vote For Who Are You Some Kind Of Genie Or Something That Now You Can Read The Minds Of The American Voters,I Personnaly Believe You Are All Rethuglicans Trying Your Best To Sway An Election Of Swiftboating As Mr Obama Claimed Of Senator Clinton Just To Make Himself Look Good After That,& Other Debates That Without A Script He's Lost In Words,He's A Speaker Of Rhetoric And At Times A Very Good One,But I Have Never Believed A Word That Comes Out Of His Mouth,Because He's An Experienced "LIAR"